Divine Encounter

I was blessed with the darshan of Baba not once but twice before I moved to the United States and got into His path.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH BABA
It was in January, 1970 I came from my office at about 1:30pm home for my lunch.  There was a person sitting on the front porch. He had a beard and was smoking beedi (cigarette).  He looked very suspicious to me.  When I was ready to go into the house the Fakir said: I was sent by Sri Shirdi Sai Baba.  He wants to conduct a yagna in Puri Jagannadha. He asked me Dakshina of 10 coconuts or equivalent money for the 10 coconuts.  The entire conversation was Hindi language.

  I replied, “I do not have anything”.  The fakir said with very loving and sweet voice, “my dear son why are you lying? You have fifty rupees in your pocket and they are all new ten rupee notes which you withdrew from the bank on the way home”.

     Though I was surprised still I did not want to give him 10 rupees.  Decided to give only 5 rupees, I tried to get change from neighbors.  Failing upon to get change, I reluctantly gave him 10 rupees though only wanted to give 5 rupees.  Then the Fakir asked me to open my hand and created VIBHUTI (holy ash) and poured it in my palm.  Then he closed my hand and advised me to go inside the house and open my hand.  My wife was observing what was happening.  I opened my palm in front of my wife.  The VIBHUTI became a rose flower to our dismay... Fakir advised me to keep that safely.  HIS SWEET VOICE AND THIS INCIDENT TRIGGERE MY HEART AND OPENED MY EYES AND BROUGHT CHANGE IN MY LIFE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

     It was December, 1973.  I was sitting outside the home translating the Vaastu Saastram (city Planning from Sanskrit to English).  It was Sunday morning at 9:30am While my neighbors watching from their balconies, one young man wearing koupinam, Rudra garlands his neck and Vibhuti along with Danda and Kamanndalam (wooden stick and water pot) entered into my house.  I did not observe as I am facing the Sun and enjoying the sunshine and immersed in my translation job.  My wife came and told me that Sai Baba came.  He again conversed with me in Hindi language.  His face was glowing.  I had no doubt in my mind.  He was like a young SHIVA(DATTA) of age 16.  He asked me again Dakshina (donation) as he is going to conduct a Yagnam in Puri Jagannadh.

    This time without hesitation I asked him “how much you want”. Then he said “Give me all what you have “. I just opened the steel drawer and cash chest and gave all to Him .  He was very much pleased.  He poured Vibhuti creating from his hand into my palm.  He asked me to close the palm and open it in front of my wife.  My parents were in the kitchen.  Generally they were all suspicious of this kind of Monks and saints.  I opened the palm and became as Red Kumkum (Turmeric powder mixed with red pigment).  I spoke loudly kumkum, kumkum.  Then he said do not speak loudly.  Keep this in pocket and clothes.   BABA told that HE will send me to the United Sates of America to do HIS WORK (Divine Service).  HE walked out of my house and flew into the sky while all people were looking from their houses.  I was working as an Assistant Director of Town Planning, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Hyderabad, India at that time.

    Finally as per HIS word I came to USA on September 21,1976.  Sri Shiridi Sai Baba Temple (organization) started in 1979 on the orders and guidance of Sai Baba.  Several Yagnas and services are being performed in the USA & India for the welfare of the denizens of all the worlds from 1982 until today.

    The meaning of TEN RUPEES DAKSHINA is to give 10 SENSES.  In short BABA’s main objective of taking donation (DAKSHINA) from his devotees is to teach the  lessons of Renunciation & Purification.



     Names of devotees who contribute to this NOBOLE CAUSE will be recited during HAVAN & YAGNA and Prasad will be mailed.  (Please make checks to SRI SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE, P.O. BOX 507 MONROEVILLE, and PA 15146.  Services also are rendered at devotee’s residences upon request all over U.S.A by appointment call (412) 374-9244.  Special: Ganesha, Sai Baba, Gayatri, Mahalakshmi, Durga & Rudra Yagnas.) All the Denizens of all the worlds be HAPPY.

                                              Along with his wife Srimati Maha Lakshmi Malyala and family every year Sri Panduranga Swamy performs World Peace Yagnas for the welfare of the Universe.  

 

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Review of 2011 World Peace Yagnas
Dear embodiments of love: 
            Blessings to all. May Sai Baba shower his galloping grace upon all of us.  Here are the events that took place in the Peace Yagnas this year.
1st Part of the Peace Yagnas:The Athi Rudra maha yagnam started on January 20th, 2011.
Each day started Ganapathi puja, Pancha palika and Akanda deeparadhana Pujas.   The Homam consisted of the recitation of Ganesh mantras, Manyupasupata mantras and 11 times of Rudram mantras. Putra Kamesti yagnam was also started at a separate special GARUDA homa kunda.
           Each evening Kumkum puja, Devatha kalyanam and Sahasra jyotrilingam were rendered. Also bhajans and Harikatha were rendered and were enjoyed by all.
            Annadanam was conducted this year by going to the surrounding villages around Puttaparthi.  Thanks to Mr. Mahalsapati and dedicated volunteers, the food that was prepared by cooks at theVeda PataSala, who took the food on a mini bus and distributed the food in different villages every day of the Yagna!  Blankets were also distributed to the needy in the villages!
January 23rd Sunday: Go Vrushabha (cow marriage) kalyanam, kataka parayanam and Upanishad parayanam were also rendered. Mrs janikiramayyagaru (Saytya Sai Baba’s brother’s wife) came for the Kalyanam. 
January 24th: Subrahmanya valli, deva Sena kalyanam, homams and Naga pratishta were rendered.
January 26th Wednesday: Final day for Putra Kameshti . At the main homa kunda of the Athi Rudram, the daily Poorna Ahuti was rendered. Then the final Putra Kameshti Poorna Ahuthi rendered. The sky was blue and clear. I was praying and looking for eagles (Garudas) in the sky as the Poorna Ahuti mantras were being chanted. That is the sign of success for the Yagnam. Finally 2 big Garudas appeared in the distance, very high in the sky, at first people doubted.  Then the Garudas finally came lower where everyone was able to see and made a round over the Homa Kundam. A small eagle came as well. All were all wonderstruck. Over 18 couples participated in the Putra Kameshti yagnam. Paayasam was given to all. After Pradakshinam, washed the feet and hands.
In the afternoon Lakshminarayana kalyanam, Sahasra jyothi linga Puja, kataka, Upanshit paarayanam, Bilva, and Kumkum pujas were rendered.
January 27th Thursday: Concentrated on Athi Rudram and Manyu Paasupatam.  Went with the volunteers for Annadanam and Blanket distribution program, which was conducted in Jagaraj Palli tanda. Also distributed the blankets to the needy. SeethaRama kalyanam was rendered in the afternoon. 
January 28th Friday: Athi Rudram yagnam was rendered. As per schedule. We cam to find out that in the evening Baba came to the Super Specialty hospital to visit patients at about 7.30pm so we went to main road and had darshan of Baba in his car while he was heading back to prasanthi nilayam. Suhasini Puja was rendered and went well.
I received a message from Baba that we need not go for darshan and He will come to the Yagna. As promised Baba came as a volunteer with white dress after the completion of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Sahasranamam and gave darsham for few seconds and waved His hand and left.
January 29th Saturday: Athi Rudram yagnam and nakshtrashti were rendered in the morning. Gollapudi Ramadasgaru and his wife came to the yagnam and rendered Padmavati and Venkateswara Kalyanam in evening.
January 31st, Sunday: FINAL Poornahuthi for Ati Rudra Maha  Yagna was rendered.  All went well. 
2nd Part Of Peace Yagna:    Sri Sai Koti Tulasi Yagnam February 5th - Sri Sai Koti Tulasi Yagnam was rendered in Hyderabad at the Sri Satya Sai Baba Adarsha Vihar school, near Shivam. Over1300 Sai Devotees participated in the Yagna. The Yagna went well. Prasadam was served to all. All the  students of Katra, Kakinada and Gangtok participated. Morning 4 rounds of Sai Baba sahasranamam and 2 rounds of AUM SRI SATHYA SAI BABAYA NAMAH with music was rendered. Homam was rendered concurrently. In the afternoon 4 rounds of Sahasranamam was rendered. 
 3rd Part of Peace Yagnas: 
March 3rd Thursday : We went to Srinagar from Nabha Devi Temple. We Reached Srinagar by 10am. There were three groups. One group arrived ahead of us and then Sri Shankaranarayanan and Deepa group came two hours later. (The Raakshasas played havoc). Rain came and the temperature dropped alarmingly. All of us settled down in respective hotels comfortably. One of baba’s devotees Sri Ashok Razdan arranged everything for us. 
4th Part of Peace Yagnas: March 4th Friday: As per divine Sankalpa of Baba we all decided to go to Kheer Bhavani temple and all arrived by 2.30 p.m. There is one company of military command of 130 soldiers. The military soldiers arranged taarpal around the havan kunda and gave full security. Then as per our prayers and by the divine grace of mother sunshine came. We picked 2 pundits from Lala Chowk in Srinagar and Yagna materials. After tea, we started Sri Chandi Yagna at the Kheer Bhavani temple around 4.30 P.M. (This temple is located on a pedestal surrounded by water. The greatness of Kheer Bhavani is the color of water will change as per the happenings in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.) With Divine Mother’s grace we chanted 700 mantras of Chandi Yagna, and offered milk and other sacred items. Poorna Ahuthi was rendered by 7 p.m.  The day went well and Baba’s mission was fulfilled. 
Miracles: After Poorna Ahuti the figures of lord Ganesha and Hanuman appeared to all in the water surrounding the temple. If you look up in the sky, one can see the map of India in between the 4 Chinar trees in front of the temple around noon. We all observed the same.
5th Part of the Peace Yagnam: March 5th Saturday: Mahalakshmi and I went with Ashok Razdan to Kheer Bhavani temple and rendered Annadanam: Kheer (milk pudding) and Puri were distributed to all military soldiers and others. Divine Mother blessed all of us. We will send another report describing the greatness of this temple.
We then went to Laurel village, close to the temple where few pundit families are living under military security. We offered to educate their young children.
In the evening we went to the Hanuman temple on the banks of Jheelam River and rendered Manyu Pasupatam Yagna with full security around us. The yagna went extremely well.
Afterwards we went to see the school building but there was no power. So went to Krishna Vaishnavi Dhaba and had wholesome dinner by the grace of Baba. 
March 6th Sunday: With the goal of establishing a Vedic School in Srinagar, after having Brunch, we went to old school building, met the teacher and her mother - Jyothi and Asha. Took them with us and went to the new building which we wanted to lease. The building is very good and fully secured. There are 2 bunkers and the military wall is on the North. The building is located opposite to Siddheswara Mahadeva Aalayam, in Indranagar and close to Ashok Razdan’s home too. 
            Finally, Baba decided to rent and provide the kitchen equipment, mattresses, telephone, and gas stove etc. at an estimated budget of Rs. 50,000. Baba’s mission was fulfilled. There are 13 students and all went home during bad weather conditions. Normally December, January months are holidays for all the schools in Srinagar. Pundit Sukla and Pundit Srikanth from Durga temple who participated in the yagnas told that they have few more students to be enrolled. The school hopes to have about 16 to 20 students. The Veda PataSala has started for this year’s session. Mother Asha will cook and Jyothi will teach English, Math and Hindi.  Arrangements for the Pundit teacher for Srinagar school are being pursued.
                                                              Bow to Sai-peace-serenity-tranquility to all.
                                                     With loving blessings, 
                                                     Saint Panduranga Rao